Renault newsletter 2006-12-08

An update on progress on the new R27 at Enstone, and details of the
team's official launch for next season.
R27 on time and on target
For the last two seasons, the Renault F1 Team has faced a major
challenge: designing the following year's car...

An update on progress on the new R27 at Enstone, and details of the
team's official launch for next season.

R27 on time and on target

For the last two seasons, the Renault F1 Team has faced a major
challenge: designing the following year's car while fighting for the
world title until the very last round of the championship. Technical
Director Bob Bell updates us on progress with the R27 programme, as the
teams at Enstone work round the clock to ready their latest championship
challenger.

Q: Bob, can you update us on progress with next year's R27 programme?

Bob Bell: Everything is running smoothly. Compared to the design of the R26, we
are definitely ahead of the game at this stage. The new chassis
successfully completed FIA homologation testing this week, while the rear
end has already been running in a hybrid R26 chassis since last week's
test in Barcelona, and has so far completed several thousand kilometres.

Q: What are the next major steps in the project?

BB: The first car will be built before Christmas, and will then complete
several weeks of static testing here at the factory, while we progress
with the build of the second chassis. We will conduct an initial
shakedown on 16 January in Jerez, followed by three full days of testing
at the same circuit. We will aim to run two chassis from that first test
onwards, in order to maximise our track time with the car and give both
race drivers the best possible preparation for the new season.

Q: How is work on R27 progressing in the wind tunnel?

BB: We are in the third year of the current aero regulations, and it is a
fact of life that it becomes harder and harder to find gains as time goes
on. However, the aerodynamics of our cars have been a major strength over
the past two championship-winning seasons, and our team in the wind
tunnel is pushing very hard at the moment. They are making very
encouraging progress.

Q: What is the motivation like in the factory?

BB: The atmosphere at the moment is very good: the work rate is high, as
always at this time of the year, and the team is more motivated than
ever. Firstly, we are coming off the back of a title-winning season,
which always brings a huge boost. And secondly, we have a number of major
changes ahead. Change and challenges are sources of new motivation, they
invigorate a team, and we are looking forward to the new car and the new
season with real optimism.

Q: Looking at winter testing so far, the team has not topped the times at
any point...

BB: Our objectives for these winter tests are very clear: to find our
feet with the Bridgestone tyres, while also building reliability and
confidence with the 2007 rear end. Everything has gone to plan, and the
R26 has been quick when we have run performance programmes.

The new
gearbox has been operating reliably, which has been a great source of
motivation for the team. So far, all the signs indicate that we are
making very good progress -- and that we will be ready to hit the
ground running when the R27 runs for the first time in January.

R27 to be launched in Amsterdam

The Renault F1 Team is pleased to announce that its 2007 challenger will
be launched in the Dutch capital Amsterdam on 24 January 2007. The car
will be launched at 'The Factory', an industrial exhibition space in
the Oostenburg area of the city.

Amsterdam is the home city of the team's new title partner, ING Group,
and was chosen to mark their arrival in the sport as title partner of the
reigning Formula 1 World Champions.

The launch will see the introduction of the team's new 2007 livery,
before the ING Renault F1 Team makes its race debut at the 2007 Formula
One ING Australian Grand Prix.